About Adèle d'Austrasie, Abbess of Pfalzel

Daughter of Saint Dagobert II, King of the Franks, and the Anglo-Saxon princess Matilda. Sister of Saint Irmina. Grand-daughter of Saint Sigebert, king of Austrasia. Princess. Married to Alberic. Mother of one son. Widowed. Her wealth, position, and beauty brought her many suitors, but she became a nun. Founded the convent of Palatiolum of Pfalsel near Trier in 690. Abbess.

Medlands says: The De Rebus Treverensibus sæculi VIII-X Libellus names "Ludewicum et tres filias…Regindrudim, Irminam, Adelam" as the children of King Dagobert and "regina…Nantilde", specifying that Adela founded a monastery "in villa Palciolum…Kal Apr anno 12 regni Theoderici regis" where she became the first abbess[426]. A charter dated 1 Apr 685, classified as spurious in the collection, of "Adela…abbatissa Dagoberti regis quondam filia" purports to record her donation to the monastery "in villa Palatiolo in ripa Mosellæ" and names "germana mea Regentrude"[427]. No reference to the three supposed sisters Regintrudis, Irmina and Adela, or to their supposed parentage, has yet been found in near contemporary sources. There must be some doubt whether they were historical figures or, if they were, that they were the children of King Dagobert & his second wife.

The following extract from an unknown source illustrates the confusion common in accounts of her life. "Adele, Abbess, daughter of Saint Dagobert II, King of the Franks, and the Anglo-Saxon princess Matilda. Sister of Saint Irmina. Grand-daughter of Saint Sigebert, king of Austrasia. Princess. Married to Alberic. Mother of one son. Widowed. Her wealth, position, and beauty brought her many suitors, but she turned them all down and became a nun. Founded the convent of Palatiolum of Pfalsel near Trier Germany in 690, and served as its first abbess. Spiritual student of Saint Boniface."